State House passes sexual assault bills drafted in wake of Larry Nassar scandal

LANSING, MI (MPRN)-- Legislation aimed at curbing sexual assault in Michigan passed the state House Thursday.

Larry Nassar

The bills were introduced in the wake of the scandal involving Larry Nassar, the former Michigan State University sports doctor who sexually assaulted his patients for years.

All lawmakers agreed they want to help victims of sexual assault, but some lawmakers argued a few of the bills didn’t go far enough.

One of the more controversial bills would give victims of childhood sexual assault more time to file civil lawsuits. The bill originated in the Senate and included a provision that would let the bill apply to old cases as well as cases going forward, but in committee, that provision was scaled back. Now victims of old cases have to have been assaulted by a physician.

Democratic Representative Adam Zemke says that doesn’t help all victims.

“This bill is not about all people. It’s only about certain people, in a certain period of time, who were assaulted by a physician.”

Lawmakers also wanted more professions added to the list of people required to report suspected child abuse.